Epilogue
Six Months Later
Gage
“I’ve got a fiancée to see and a daughter to hug.” I pat Gus on the back. “You’ll keep those young ones in line if I take off, won’t you?”
Zeke and Callie both flip me the bird.
Gus lets out a hearty laugh. “I’ve done my time for today, but I’m all for hanging around.”
Five months ago Gus walked into Tin Anchor.
It wasn’t fate that brought him to the door. It was the T-shirt I was wearing when I handed him a brown paper bag with a few items in it.
I had no idea at the time that I had struck up a friendship with Gustav Strand.
The man is a philanthropist and one of the richest men in the country.
He started a charitable foundation with his wife, Lois, years before his death.
He lives a modest existence so he can share his wealth with those who need it.
He came into Tin Anchor that night months ago to hand me a check to thank me for my kindness. He wanted to ease my financial burden by covering Kristin’s future in college.
My parents set that up when she was four-years-old, so I asked Gus to donate the funds where he saw fit.
He took care of it, dividing the money between a homeless shelter in Queens and a community center in Morningside Heights that offers free dance lessons to seniors.
He’s dropped in on a few classes since.
Three nights a week he stops by the bar to help out.
He makes a few drinks, tells a story or two, and keeps an eye on the place when I’m not around.
Zeke and Callie are qualified to do that, but it gives Gus a sense of purpose that he needs. I consider him family now.
He’s sat down for a few meals with Katie, Kristin, and I.
“Go home.” He points at the door. “I’ll lock up the place.”
I know he will. He’ll take care of it as he’s taken care of so many people in this city. The two people I want to take care of are waiting at home for me, so I grab my winter coat and set out into the snow.
***
“Katie and Tilly are going to help me paint my bedroom purple.” Kristin wraps a pink scarf around her neck. “We’re doing it on the weekend.”
“Tilly is going to help.” Katie adjusts the wool hat on Kristin’s head before she plants a kiss in the middle of her forehead. “I’m going to watch from the sidelines.”
“Purple?” I raise a brow.
Katie tugs on the bottom of the large white sweater she’s wearing. “Purple is the best.”
“The best.” Kristin gives Katie a big hug before she wraps her arms around me. “I’ll be back tomorrow after school.”
“I’ll be waiting for you by the steps of the school.” I lean down to kiss my daughter’s cheek. “Be good to your mom tonight.”
“I’m always good to her.”